Is There a Herbicide That Does Not Kill Strawberries?

Selective and Non-Selective Herbicides

• Selective herbicides will control certain weed types, but they will be ineffective against other types of weeds, known as "escapes." Over time, these escape weed species can become the dominant weed species. Continue to manually hoe and pull escape weeds, rotate crops and use herbicides with differing targets. Use non-selective herbicides in conjunction with physical tiling to eliminate perennial weeds within strawberry weeds strictly before planting crops.

Preemergence Selective Herbicide Treatments

• Preemergent herbicides are preventative weed treatments intended for application at planting or at certain times before weed seedlings develop. Strawberry plants are grown in nearly every part of the United States, and specific types of preemergent treatments may vary regionally. Devrinol, Dathal and Sinbar are three of the more common brands. Devrinol and Dacthyl are considered most effective for treating annual grasses, like crabgrass, but they are also effective at treating some varieties of annual broadleaf weeds, like puslane and chickweed. Sinbar, on the other hand, is best for treating annual broadleaf weeds, such as lamb's-quarter. In general, preemergent herbicides will not effectively eliminate established, perennial weeds.

Postemergence Selective Herbicide Treatments

• Postemergent selective herbicides are applied after weeds emerge following crop planting. Similar to preemergent treatments, types of postemergent treatments may vary depending on the location of the planting. In general, this form of herbicide is better able to treat perennial weeds. Select, Poast and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, more commonly referred to as 2,4-D, are three of the most effective and familiar forms of postemergent strawberry herbicides. Select eliminates perennial grasses, like quack grass, and annual grasses, such as crabgrass. 2,4-D works well for killing perennial broadleaf weeds, like dandelion, and annual broadleaf weeds, such as redroot pigweed. Poast is most effective against annual grass, like rye grass, and some perennial grasses, like quack grass.

Herbicide Timing and Considerations

• Regardless of the method of weed removal, timely removal of weeds is essential for the survival and prosperity of strawberry plantings. Protect the health of the strawberry by avoiding herbicide application while strawberry plants are in bloom, when fruit buds are forming and when runner plants are taking root. Avoid use of herbicides on newly planted fields until the summer or fall of the first year of planting. Most commercial fields are fumigated at herbicidal rates prior to planting, so additional treatment is typically not necessary until later in the year.